MILITARY TRAINING

Waipa Post, Volume 47, Issue 3384, 24 October 1933, Page 5

MILITARY TRAINING

SIR ALEX GODLEY’S INFLUENCE. Six Alexander Godley’s retirement into private lue recalls an interesting period in our own history, the inception of the system of compulsory military ti’aining and the reoxganisation of our land forces. Irx .hose days the people of New Zea.and did not apprehend the real measure of the danger that threatened the British Empire through the ag-: gressive policy of pre-war Germany, it was quite evident. however, from vhe calibre of the Imperial Staff Ofncers sent out with Godley to reorganise the New Zealand Forces .hat the new training was regarded us a serious and urgent matter both the Bi'itish and New Zealand Governments. General Godley had ’a yery delicate and difficult task, to perform .n initiating without friction the pi’insiple of compulsory military training, rxe had to conciliate the farmers and industrialists, and adjust as far as poss.ble his methods to the temper of a free people. At the same time, ne had to ensure that our forces would oe ready and efficient when the call came. That he was successful there can be no question. Those who seiwed under him abroad considered him strict, cold, but a good soldier in the sense that he “knew his job.”